Chowra Island

Chowra is an island in the Andaman and Nicobar islands group of India. It is located to the north of Teressa island and to the south of Battimalv Island in the India Ocean. It is also known as Choura, Tatat or Sanenyo.[3]

"Chowra" redirects here. For the language, see Chowra language.

Chowra
Native name:
Sőnenyő / Sanenyo / Sanenya
Chowra
Location of Chowra Island in India
Geography
LocationBay of Bengal
Coordinates8.455°N 93.045°E / 8.455; 93.045
ArchipelagoNicobar Islands
Adjacent bodies of waterIndian Ocean
Total islands1
Major islands
  • Chowra
Area5.85 km2 (2.26 sq mi)[1]
Length2.3 km (1.43 mi)
Width3.3 km (2.05 mi)
Coastline10 km (6 mi)
Highest elevation104.5 m (342.8 ft)
Administration
DistrictNicobar
Island groupNicobar Islands
Subdivisions of IndiaNancowry Subdivision
Largest settlementSouthern Agency (pop. 750)
Demographics
Population1270 (2011)
Pop. density217/km2 (562/sq mi)
Ethnic groupsNicobarese people
Additional information
Time zone
PIN744301
Telephone code03192
ISO codeIN-AN-00[2]
Official websitewww.and.nic.in
Literacy84.4%
Avg. summer temperature32.0 °C (89.6 °F)
Avg. winter temperature28.0 °C (82.4 °F)
Sex ratio♂/♀
Census Code35.638.0002
Official LanguagesHindi, English, Tamil
Chaura (regional)

History

The island suffered severe damage during the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.[4]

Geography

The island is generally flat but has a 104.5 m high rocky upland at its southern end. Coral reefs extend about 1.5 miles from the northwestern side of the island.[5]

Demographics

The island has three villages, belonging to 5 clans. Tahaila Beach is located on the east coast, where the jetty is. Northern Agency and Southern Agency are in the middle of the island, and consist of former inhabitants of: Alhiat, Chongkamong, Kuitasuk, Raihion and Tahaila. According to 2011 census, 1270 people lived in the three villages on the island:[6]

  • Tahaila Beach: 10
  • Northern Agency: 517
    • Tahaila: 372
    • Chongkamong: 145
  • Southern Agency: 743
    • Alhiat: 190
    • Kuitasuk: 277
    • Raihion: 276

Administration

The island belongs to the township of Nancowry of Teressa Taluk.[7]

Culture

Chowra island has five clans. Each year, one of the clans organizes a 3-week festival Panuohonot ("pig festival") according to the rotation system. The preparation for the festival lasts several months, and members of the other clans offer some help with the organization. The festival is celebrated in memory of the ancestors, at the onset of north-east winds.[8]:131 The festival features singing and dancing, with a canoe race at the end. At the onset of the south-west winds, Kancheuollo ("chicken festival") is celebrated.[8]:4

  • Map

References
  1. "Islandwise Area and Population - 2011 Census" (PDF). Government of Andaman. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  2. Registration Plate Numbers added to ISO Code
  3. G. K. Ghosh (1998). Tourism Perspective in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. APH Publishing. p. 26. ISBN 978-81-7024-978-8.
  4. After the Tsunami: A Scientist's Dilemma by Simron Singh. Science 7 July 2006: Vol. 313 no. 5783 pp. 32-35. DOI: 10.1126/science.313.5783.32
  5. Sailing Directions (Enroute), Pub. 173: India and the Bay of Bengal (PDF). Sailing Directions. United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. 2017. p. 290.
  6. "District Census Handbook - Andaman & Nicobar Islands" (PDF). 2011 Census of India. Directorate of Census Operations, Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 August 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  7. "Tehsils" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  8. Geeti Sen (2001). The Human Landscape. Orient Blackswan. ISBN 978-81-250-2045-5.


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